Owner-builder work is essentially any work (in addition to organising and supervising) involving the construction of, or alterations, repairs or additions to a dwelling:

Where the reasonable market cost (inclusive of materials and labour) exceeds $20,000 and is in relation to a single dwelling-house, a secondary dwelling (possibly in special cases an owner-builder permit may be granted for dual occupancy).

When there is a need for development approval within Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979., or a complying development within Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

If the market value (inclusive of the materials and labour) of the residential building exceeds $20,000, you will need to do the NSW Owner Builder Course to evidence that you have in fact met the Owner Builder education requirements stipulated by Fair Trading. Without the Owner Builder education certification, you will not qualify to receive the Owner Builder Permit.

There are certain accreditations which meet the education requirements for an Owner Builder in NSW. Please enquire about our RPL ( Recognition for prior learning ) process to determine whether your experience and qualifications meet with the education requirements for an Owner Builder in NSW.

As an Owner Builder you are certified to hold an Owner Builders Permit. The Owner Builders Permit does not qualify you to be a builder. A builder holds a building licence.

Your Owner Builder Permit does not allow you to do the following work on other projects outside of your development application or complying development certificate specialist licensed work like electrical, plumbing, gasfitting and the like.

It is an offence for the holder of an Owner builder permit to employ any unlicensed workers allow anyone to use your permit not be willingly to provide the particulars of your works working on the site.

It is expected to require approximately 100 hours of effort from the participant. Most
participants will be able to complete the course within approximately 4 weeks , however, based on prior knowledge and experience
some participants may complete this course faster. It is expected that the assessment will take approximately 15 hours, however,
based on prior knowledge and experience some participants may complete the assessment faster. Participants undertaking this
course have up to 6 months to complete this course.

As an Owner Builder you are certified to hold an Owner Builders Permit. The Owner Builders Permit does not qualify you to be a builder. A builder holds a building license. Your Owner Builder Permit does not allow you to do the following –

Work on other projects outside of your development application or complying development certificate.

Specialist licensed work like electrical, plumbing, gas-fitting and the like.

It is an offence for the holder of an Owner builder permit to:

Employ any unlicensed workers.

Allow anyone to use your permit.

Not be willingly to provide the particulars of your works working on the site.

From 1 February 2012, home warranty insurance is required to be obtained where the contract price is over $20,000 or, if the contract price is not known, the reasonable market cost of the labour and materials involved is over $20,000. Prior to 1 February 2012, the threshold was $12,000. For more information, go to the Home warranty insurance fund website at www.homewarranty.nsw.gov.au

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